How is collaborative law different?

Whether you are litigating a divorce or another legal matter, going to court is an expensive and time-consuming process. Collaborative law seeks to streamline everything to make the process easier and quicker.

Collaborative, as the name suggests, means working together. The biggest difference, therefore, with this process is that you and the other party work together instead of against each other. But there are far more differences worth noting.

Outside the courtroom

Another major difference is that you will handle your business outside of the courtroom environment. Instead of the formal and stuffy nature of a traditional legal case, you get a comfortable place where you and the other party can feel free to work together and come to a decision. You will not have to worry about legal procedures and rules as far as how you discuss the topic at hand. It allows for a free flow of ideas and negotiations.

More control

You also have more control during the collaborative process. In a typical litigation situation, the judge has a lot of control. But because you are not in the courtroom, you and the other party can take the lead and direct where negotiations go and how the overall process moves. Having more control allows you to be more open to working together instead of feeling like you are fighting each other.

Because collaborative processes engage both parties and move on a more personal path, it encourages people to come together and figure the situation out in a way that is beneficial to everyone. Approaching legal matters with this different attitude can make a world of difference in many cases.